Entering The Third Wave Of COVID, Ridwan Kamil Asks Regencies/Cities To Increase Hospital Bed Capacity

West Java Governor M Ridwan Kamil at the Policy Committee Meeting on COVID-19 Handling (Via Antara)

JABAR - West Java Governor M Ridwan Kamil asked all regencies and cities in the province to increase the hospital bed capacity as during the peak of the Delta variant of COVID-19.

"Entering the third wave of COVID-19, I ask for the calculation of the BOR (Bed Occupancy Rate) using the maximum capacity as at the peak of the Delta variant. At the beginning of the year the Delta variant decreased, hospital capacity also decreased," said Ridwan Kamil during the COVID-19 Handling Policy Committee Meeting. 19 and Regional Economic Recovery of West Java Province at the Bekasi City Government Office, Antara, Monday, February 21.

Ridwan Kamil also asked all district/city governments to enforce the 5M health protocol and according to President Joko Widodo's direction, wearing masks is the most emphasized thing.

"The president's most important directive is masks. Pak Luhut's directive is to open our economy wisely, but the issue of masks is to be improved. So I entrust the most fundamental thing to increase the discipline of masks," he said.

At the same time, testing (testing), tracking (tracking), and follow-up (treatment) must continue to be carried out by local governments. With this combination, the governor believes the Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus can be overcome.

"Whatever the name (the COVID-19 variant) is the solution. The people obey the prokes, the state seeks, treats, treats," said Kang Emil, his nickname.

In addition, Kang Emil asked all regional heads, TNI/Polri to speed up vaccination, especially for the elderly who have not yet received the second vaccine.

This step is an effort to protect the public from the Omicron variant of COVID-19 which is spreading so fast.

Because, according to Kang Emil, from the results of research in West Java, those who died from COVID-19 were the elderly and those who had not been vaccinated.

Regions with already high vaccination rates are encouraged to carry out booster vaccinations, so that there is no news of expired COVID-19 vaccines.

"Then there should be no expired vaccine, so pick up the ball to be carried out immediately, then combine it with public service policies," said Kang Emil.

"Take the elderly, because the majority of those who die are elderly and those who have not been vaccinated. So, if there are elderly people who have not been vaccinated, they are the most vulnerable to Omicron," he said.